New handle for an old axe head.

[Chuck Nickerson]

I picked up an old broadaxe head this past Saturday. The metal inside the head (where the handle will go) is quite rough, perhaps rust lumps. Should I leave them to provide bite for the new handle, or clean them out with a file? The new handle will be hickory.

[harry strasil]

rust will destroy a file, best way is got an old round file cut the tang off, grind an inch of the cutting grooves off the small end, drill a hole in a piece of scrap hardwood a little bigger than the ground off part diameter, put a dab of grease in the hole. chuck the smooth part of the tang in a variable speed drill and stick the file thru the eye, slip on the handle and start the drill turning at a medium speed to work down the roughest parts.

[harry strasil]

remember the handle is supposed to angle out a few degrees toward the tapered cutting edge side. and you can install the handle for either a right or left handed person.